The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has reaffirmed the enduring national impact of founder Errol Walton Barrow, saying the National Hero’s policies continue to shape Barbados 39 years to the day after his death.
Stephen Lashley, interim president of the DLP, issued a statement tribute to Barrow, who died in office at age 67 on June 1, 1987, 11 months into his third term as leader of a post-independence government.
Lashley highlighted the first prime minister’s role in the island’s independence and his stance of “We shall be friends of all, satellites of none”, which still defines its foreign policy.
The DLP leader pointed to Barrow’s social transformation policies, including the introduction of free secondary education and the development of the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, the Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology. These all traced back to Barrow’s belief that “education is freedom”.
Barrow’s introduction of the national school meals programme, to ensure children learned in a comfortable and healthy state, was also praised.
Lashley hailed the country’s first and fourth prime minister as a leader who established enduring economic foundations through careful resource management and proactive monetary strategies, including the founding of the Central Bank of Barbados in 1972.
Barrow championed international business, light manufacturing and tourism, while also bolstering the National Insurance Scheme, which ensured long-term financial security for Barbadians, said the party leader.
“Mr Barrow was the people’s champion,” Lashley said, describing the administration’s laws and social programmes as being rooted in the conviction that every citizen deserves a stake in their nation.
He said Barrow’s commitment to regional unity was evident in his role as a founding father of CARIFTA, the precursor to CARICOM. His opposition to the US invasion of Grenada and his firm stance against apartheid in South Africa demonstrated his reputation as a Caribbean leader who courageously spoke truth to power, he added.
Saying that 39 years after his death, Barrow’s legacy remains a guiding force, Lashley argued that his “mirror-image” politics — a principle that government actions must reflect the people’s needs — remains the benchmark for effective leadership.
Stressing that Barrow’s influence continues to be felt across global affairs, healthcare, education and housing, Lashley pledged that the DLP has inherited his charge “to complete the social and economic revolution he began”.
(JB)
The post Democratic Labour Party marks Barrow anniversary with renewed focus on legacy appeared first on Barbados Today.